Textual analysis of a horror teaser trailer (Cyprian)

  

THE HILLS HAVE EYES 2 TEASER TRAILER:

• DIRECTOR - Wes Craven
• RELEASE DATE - 2007
• RUNNING TIME - 1minute 05 seconds 
• GENRE - Splatter

The setting of this teaser trailer is a dusty, empty desert where we see two tall, muscular, male figures in tattered clothes pulling two lifeless bodies by a rope. It is almost as if it's a prisoner/gaurd situation. The setting gives the audience the impression that the events unrolling in the movie are taking place in a unknown area and that typical rules in society do not apply here as you would never see this in your local environment. The audience are then prompted to consider what type of antagonists are in this film, as we try to figure why the two figures are pulling these two bodies, thus giving the audience an incentive to view this film.

 

as the teaser trailer continues it is revealed that the camera shot is in actual fact a point of view shot from one of the bodies (or prisoners) on the rope. This is strange from the audiences point of view as these are not usual characteristics you would expect to see from a horror film teaser trailer as it is in one long take with no editing. This is effective in giving this film its own identity as by not following this convention it may stick out to audiences, therefore making it more recognizable and possibly more memorable.

The decision to not show any deaths or even the faces of the two possible antagonists is a bold decision, as audiences like to be engaged in what they view and in the case of horror films, this is usually done by a death or glimpse of an iconic prop. However, by doing this, it allows the teaser trailer to live up to it's name as a teaser, by making audiences feel like they are left with insufficient knowledge about the film and may look to research the film and as a result gain an interest in it.  

Despite its simplicity, I do believe that this teaser trailer is effective as it challenges its audiences to understand the events going on, to the extent that they are left wanting to know more and takes advantage of the 'Hills Have Eyes' fan base gained from the first installment to employ this vagueness.  

Written by Cyprian